{"id":52523,"date":"2023-08-10T05:47:05","date_gmt":"2023-08-10T05:47:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/?p=52523"},"modified":"2026-08-19T11:03:25","modified_gmt":"2026-08-19T11:03:25","slug":"university-of-the-people-uopeople","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/university-of-the-people-uopeople\/","title":{"rendered":"University of the People (UoPeople) in India 2026-27: Fees, Recognition and Is It Worth It"},"content":{"rendered":"<span class=\"rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\"><\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\">10<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">min read<\/span><\/span>\n<div class=\"quick-read-box\">\n\n  <div class=\"qr-header\">\n    <span style=\"font-size:18px;\">\u26a1<\/span>\n    <h3 class=\"qr-title\">Quick Read<\/h3>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <ul>\n    <li>University of the People voluntarily ended its DEAC accreditation on December 31, 2025.<\/li>\n\n    <li>UoPeople is not recognized by India&#8217;s UGC or the AICTE for equivalence purposes.<\/li>\n\n    <li>A full Computer Science degree now costs about Rs.6,95,401 in total fees.<\/li>\n\n    <li>WES has evaluated University of the People degrees since its 2025 WSCUC accreditation.<\/li>\n\n    <li>IELTS or TOEFL is not mandatory if you clear UoPeople&#8217;s own English course instead.<\/li>\n\n    <li>The one-time application fee is $60, which is close to Rs.5,747 at the August rate.<\/li>\n  <\/ul>\n\n  <div class=\"qr-footer\">\n    \ud83d\udc49 Best for: Indian students weighing UoPeople&#8217;s cost, recognition and career payoff before applying\n  <\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_68_1 ez-toc-wrap-left counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title \" >Table of Content<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #192a3d;color:#192a3d\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #192a3d;color:#192a3d\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/university-of-the-people-uopeople\/#What_Is_the_University_of_the_People\" title=\"What Is the University of the People?\">What Is the University of the People?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/university-of-the-people-uopeople\/#Is_the_University_of_the_People_Accredited_What_Changed_in_2025-26\" title=\"Is the University of the People Accredited? What Changed in 2025-26\">Is the University of the People Accredited? What Changed in 2025-26<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/university-of-the-people-uopeople\/#University_of_the_People_Fees_Cost_of_Living_and_Scholarships_in_2026-27\" title=\"University of the People Fees, Cost of Living and Scholarships in 2026-27\">University of the People Fees, Cost of Living and Scholarships in 2026-27<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/university-of-the-people-uopeople\/#Is_a_University_of_the_People_Degree_Valid_in_India_UGC_Recognition_Explained\" title=\"Is a University of the People Degree Valid in India? UGC Recognition Explained\">Is a University of the People Degree Valid in India? UGC Recognition Explained<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/university-of-the-people-uopeople\/#University_of_the_People_vs_IGNOU_vs_a_Private_Indian_University\" title=\"University of the People vs IGNOU vs a Private Indian University\">University of the People vs IGNOU vs a Private Indian University<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/university-of-the-people-uopeople\/#University_of_the_People_and_WES_Evaluation_for_Immigration\" title=\"University of the People and WES Evaluation for Immigration\">University of the People and WES Evaluation for Immigration<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/university-of-the-people-uopeople\/#Is_University_of_the_People_Right_for_You_3_Scenarios\" title=\"Is University of the People Right for You? 3 Scenarios\">Is University of the People Right for You? 3 Scenarios<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/university-of-the-people-uopeople\/#Documents_You_Need_to_Apply_from_India\" title=\"Documents You Need to Apply from India\">Documents You Need to Apply from India<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/university-of-the-people-uopeople\/#When_to_Apply_Planning_Around_the_Fall_2027_Research_Season\" title=\"When to Apply: Planning Around the Fall 2027 Research Season\">When to Apply: Planning Around the Fall 2027 Research Season<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/university-of-the-people-uopeople\/#What_to_Do_When_Your_Application_or_Evaluation_Goes_Wrong\" title=\"What to Do When Your Application or Evaluation Goes Wrong?\">What to Do When Your Application or Evaluation Goes Wrong?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/university-of-the-people-uopeople\/#Popular_Programs_and_Expected_Job_Roles_for_Indian_Students\" title=\"Popular Programs and Expected Job Roles for Indian Students\">Popular Programs and Expected Job Roles for Indian Students<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/university-of-the-people-uopeople\/#3_Key_Takeaways_on_University_of_the_People\" title=\"3 Key Takeaways on University of the People\">3 Key Takeaways on University of the People<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-13\" href=\"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/university-of-the-people-uopeople\/#Frequently_Asked_Questions_About_University_of_the_People\" title=\"Frequently Asked Questions About University of the People\">Frequently Asked Questions About University of the People<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-heading stk-block-heading stk-block-heading--v2 stk-block stk-b078327\" id=\"strong-what-is-the-university-of-the-people-strong\" data-block-id=\"b078327\"><h2 class=\"stk-block-heading__text\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_Is_the_University_of_the_People\"><\/span><strong>What Is the University of the People?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>If you are still asking what UoPeople is in the first place: it is a non-profit, tuition-free online university that lets you earn a US degree from home in India, paying only fees, not tuition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>At a glance:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Full name:<\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.uopeople.edu\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> <\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.uopeople.edu\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">University of the People<\/a> (UoPeople)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Founded:<\/strong> 2009, by Shai Reshef<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Location:<\/strong> Pasadena, California, fully online.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Model:<\/strong> Non-profit, tuition-free, fee-per-course<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Programmes offered:<\/strong> Associate&#8217;s, Bachelor&#8217;s and Master&#8217;s degrees in Business Administration, Computer Science, Health Science, Education and General Studies<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>What you actually pay:<\/strong> An application fee plus a per-course assessment fee, not tuition, which is where &#8220;tuition-free&#8221; gets misleading<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>My insight:<\/em><\/strong><em> Most students who come to us about UoPeople have already decided they like the price. What they have not done is map that price against what they actually need the degree for, a government job, a private-sector role, or a path abroad.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-heading stk-block-heading stk-block-heading--v2 stk-block stk-9994eee\" id=\"strong-is-the-university-of-the-people-accredited-what-changed-in-2025-26-strong\" data-block-id=\"9994eee\"><h2 class=\"stk-block-heading__text\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_the_University_of_the_People_Accredited_What_Changed_in_2025-26\"><\/span><strong>Is the University of the People Accredited? What Changed in 2025-26<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>Until 2025, UoPeople held national accreditation from the Distance Education Accrediting Commission (DEAC).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>From February 2025, it also held regional accreditation from WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC), the body that accredits Stanford.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>UoPeople voluntarily withdrew DEAC accreditation effective December 31, 2025, and now holds WSCUC accreditation only.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>This is not a downgrade. WSCUC is generally viewed as stronger than national accreditation in the US system.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If an article still lists DEAC as active, it has not been updated, and its other facts deserve the same scrutiny.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>Source:<\/em><\/strong><strong><em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.uopeople.edu\/student-experience\/quality\/accreditation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> <\/a><\/em><\/strong><em><u><a href=\"https:\/\/www.uopeople.edu\/student-experience\/quality\/accreditation\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">UoPeople Accreditation page<\/a><\/u><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-heading stk-block-heading stk-block-heading--v2 stk-block stk-cca4b55\" id=\"strong-university-of-the-people-fees-cost-of-living-and-scholarships-in-2026-27-strong\" data-block-id=\"cca4b55\"><h2 class=\"stk-block-heading__text\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"University_of_the_People_Fees_Cost_of_Living_and_Scholarships_in_2026-27\"><\/span><strong>University of the People Fees, Cost of Living and Scholarships in 2026-27<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Budgeting for UoPeople means three things: fees, what a campus-based US degree would have cost instead, and financial help. Here is each, broken down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-heading stk-block-heading stk-block-heading--v2 stk-block stk-3fe243b\" id=\"strong-1-tuition-fee-strong\" data-block-id=\"3fe243b\"><h3 class=\"stk-block-heading__text\"><strong>1. Tuition Fee<\/strong><\/h3><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table class=\"has-palette-color-5-background-color has-background has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th><strong>Fee type<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>USD<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>INR<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Application fee (one-time)<\/td><td>$60<\/td><td>Rs.5,747<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Undergraduate course fee (per course)<\/td><td>$180<\/td><td>Rs.17,240<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Graduate course fee, MBA\/MSIT (per course)<\/td><td>$490<\/td><td>Rs.46,932<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Graduate course fee, M.Ed. (per course)<\/td><td>$430<\/td><td>Rs.41,185<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Bachelor&#8217;s, Business or Computer Science (total)<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>$7,260<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Rs.6,95,401<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Bachelor&#8217;s, Health Science (total)<\/td><td>$7,080<\/td><td>Rs.6,78,122<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Bachelor&#8217;s, General Studies (total)<\/td><td>$4,000<\/td><td>Rs.3,83,120<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Master&#8217;s, MBA, or MSIT (total)<\/td><td>$5,940<\/td><td>Rs.5,68,933<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Master&#8217;s, Education (total)<\/td><td>$5,650<\/td><td>Rs.5,41,157<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong><em>Exchange rate used:<\/em><\/strong><em> Rs.95.78 per USD as of August 2026. Verify the current rate before finalizing your budget.<\/em><br><strong><em>Source:<a href=\"https:\/\/www.uopeople.edu\/tuition-free\/processing-fees\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> <\/a><\/em><\/strong><em><u><a href=\"https:\/\/www.uopeople.edu\/tuition-free\/processing-fees\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">UoPeople Fees page<\/a><\/u><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>My insight:<\/em><\/strong><em> Families budget for the per-course fee but forget that it applies to every course, not just once. A Bachelor&#8217;s is 40 courses, so Rs.17,240 per course adds up fast if you plan course by course instead of against the full total.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-heading stk-block-heading stk-block-heading--v2 stk-block stk-094d72a\" id=\"strong-2-cost-of-living-strong\" data-block-id=\"094d72a\"><h3 class=\"stk-block-heading__text\"><strong>2. Cost of Living<\/strong><\/h3><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>UoPeople is 100% online, so studying from India means skipping US living costs entirely. For context, here is what a single person actually pays in Pasadena, where UoPeople is headquartered:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table class=\"has-palette-color-5-background-color has-background has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th><strong>Expense<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Monthly cost (USD)<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Monthly cost (INR)<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>1-bedroom apartment (outside city centre)<\/td><td>$2,700<\/td><td>Rs.2,58,606<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Basic utilities (electricity, water, cooling)<\/td><td>$298<\/td><td>Rs.28,543<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Groceries (estimated)<\/td><td>$300<\/td><td>Rs.28,734<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Public transport pass<\/td><td>$101<\/td><td>Rs.9,674<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Mobile and broadband<\/td><td>$135<\/td><td>Rs.12,930<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong><em>Exchange rate used:<\/em><\/strong><em> Rs.95.78 per USD as of August 2026. Verify the current rate before finalizing your budget.<\/em><br><strong><em>Source:<\/em><\/strong><em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.numbeo.com\/cost-of-living\/in\/Pasadena\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> <\/a><u><a href=\"https:\/\/www.numbeo.com\/cost-of-living\/in\/Pasadena\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Numbeo Cost of Living in Pasadena, June 2026<\/a><\/u><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>That is roughly Rs.3.4 lakh a month for a campus-based US degree. UoPeople&#8217;s online model means an Indian student pays none of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-heading stk-block-heading stk-block-heading--v2 stk-block stk-cb5529f\" id=\"strong-3-scholarships-strong\" data-block-id=\"cb5529f\"><h3 class=\"stk-block-heading__text\"><strong>3. Scholarships<\/strong><\/h3><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>UoPeople funds scholarships through donors and corporate partners rather than government aid, since it does not participate in Title IV or Indian financial aid schemes. All scholarships are requested through the student portal after admission, on a first-come, first-served basis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table class=\"has-palette-color-5-background-color has-background has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th><strong>Scholarship<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Type<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Covers<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.uopeople.edu\/tuition-free\/scholarships\/simone-biles-legacy-scholarship-fund\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Simone Biles Legacy Scholarship Fund<\/a><\/td><td>University-specific<\/td><td>Application and course assessment fees<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.uopeople.edu\/tuition-free\/scholarships\/hewlett-packard-scholarships-mentoring\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">HP Scholarships and Mentoring Fund<\/a><\/td><td>University-specific<\/td><td>Course assessment fees, plus mentoring<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.uopeople.edu\/tuition-free\/scholarships\/convera-scholarship\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Convera Scholarship<\/a><\/td><td>University-specific<\/td><td>Application and course assessment fees<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.uopeople.edu\/tuition-free\/scholarships\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">General Scholarship Fund<\/a><\/td><td>Common, open to any admitted student<\/td><td>Course assessment fees, based on demonstrated financial need<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-heading stk-block-heading stk-block-heading--v2 stk-block stk-1576917\" id=\"strong-is-a-university-of-the-people-degree-valid-in-india-ugc-recognition-explained-strong\" data-block-id=\"1576917\"><h2 class=\"stk-block-heading__text\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_a_University_of_the_People_Degree_Valid_in_India_UGC_Recognition_Explained\"><\/span><strong>Is a University of the People Degree Valid in India? UGC Recognition Explained<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The question of whether a University of People degree is valid in India has no single yes or no answer. It depends on what you are using the degree for.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li>UoPeople is not recognized by India&#8217;s University Grants Commission (UGC) or the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Government jobs, public-sector roles, and any position listing a &#8220;UGC-recognized degree&#8221; as an eligibility criterion will not accept it.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Most Indian universities require a UGC-recognized Bachelor&#8217;s for Master&#8217;s or PhD admission, which rules out a direct path from a UoPeople undergraduate degree.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>India&#8217;s foreign-degree equivalence process moved from the <a href=\"https:\/\/aiu.ac.in\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Association of Indian Universities (AIU)<\/a> to the UGC itself under new 2025 regulations, and this is handled case by case through the UGC&#8217;s own portal.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>In the Indian private sector, particularly IT and analytics roles, a portfolio and coding ability often outweigh the name on the certificate.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>Source:<\/em><\/strong><em><a href=\"https:\/\/equivalence.ugc.ac.in\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> <\/a><\/em><em><u><a href=\"https:\/\/equivalence.ugc.ac.in\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">UGC Equivalence Portal<\/a><\/u><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>My insight:<\/em><\/strong><em> I have seen candidates use this degree successfully for private-sector hiring in Bangalore and Gurgaon and seen others stuck for months trying to use it for a PSU application. The degree does not change. What changes is whether the employer&#8217;s criteria mention UGC recognition by name.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-heading stk-block-heading stk-block-heading--v2 stk-block stk-18aa3f6\" id=\"strong-university-of-the-people-vs-ignou-vs-a-private-indian-university-strong\" data-block-id=\"18aa3f6\"><h2 class=\"stk-block-heading__text\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"University_of_the_People_vs_IGNOU_vs_a_Private_Indian_University\"><\/span><strong>University of the People vs IGNOU vs a Private Indian University<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>If cost and flexibility drew you to UoPeople, IGNOU deserves a look too, since it solves the same problems from inside the Indian system.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table class=\"has-palette-color-5-background-color has-background has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th><strong>Factor<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>University of the People<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>IGNOU<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Private Indian University<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>UGC recognition<\/td><td>Not recognized<\/td><td>Fully recognised<\/td><td>Usually recognized; verify status<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Government job eligibility<\/td><td>Not eligible<\/td><td>Eligible<\/td><td>Eligible if UGC-recognized<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Total cost (Bachelor&#8217;s)<\/td><td>Rs.3.8 to 6.9 lakh<\/td><td>Often under Rs.50,000<\/td><td>Rs.1 to 6 lakh, varies<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Accepted abroad (post-2025)<\/td><td>Yes, via WSCUC and WES<\/td><td>Case-by-case, weaker<\/td><td>Depends on tie-ups<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Mode of study<\/td><td>100% online, asynchronous<\/td><td>Distance and online<\/td><td>Mostly on-campus<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Best fit for<\/td><td>Global-facing roles<\/td><td>Indian-recognized distance degree<\/td><td>Structured campus experience<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong><em>Sources:<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ignou.ac.in\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> <\/a><\/em><\/strong><em><u><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ignou.ac.in\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">IGNOU official site<\/a><\/u> and the UGC Equivalence Portal<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>IGNOU wins on domestic recognition every time. University of the People wins if your goal sits outside India&#8217;s government and academic system entirely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-heading stk-block-heading stk-block-heading--v2 stk-block stk-f019c4c\" id=\"strong-university-of-the-people-and-wes-evaluation-for-immigration-strong\" data-block-id=\"f019c4c\"><h2 class=\"stk-block-heading__text\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"University_of_the_People_and_WES_Evaluation_for_Immigration\"><\/span><strong>University of the People and WES Evaluation for Immigration<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>If you are chasing Canada&#8217;s Express Entry points or planning further study abroad, this matters more than the India recognition question.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Before 2025:<\/strong> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wes.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">World Education Services<\/a> routinely returned &#8220;non-recognized institutions&#8221; for UoPeople credentials. WES leaned on regional accreditation as its benchmark, and UoPeople only held DEAC&#8217;s national accreditation at the time.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>What changed:<\/strong> After the February 2025 WSCUC accreditation, WES began evaluating University of the People degrees, and Indian applicants have reported successful outcomes since.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Canada Express Entry:<\/strong> A WES-evaluated UoPeople degree can count toward your <a href=\"https:\/\/www.canada.ca\/en\/immigration-refugees-citizenship\/services\/immigrate-canada\/express-entry\/check-score\/crs-criteria.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS)<\/a> education points, but the exact score depends on your program and evaluation outcome, not just WES&#8217;s acceptance of the institution.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>US-bound further study or licensing:<\/strong> Some US graduate programs and licensing bodies ask for a WES-style credential report. A WSCUC-accredited degree clears this bar more easily than the older DEAC-only credential did.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The catch:<\/strong> &#8220;Evaluated&#8221; is not &#8220;guaranteed equal points&#8221; or &#8220;accepted everywhere.&#8221; Order your evaluation early and check the fine print for your specific stream before relying on the outcome.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>My insight:<\/em><\/strong><em> Students often order their WES evaluation only after applying for immigration, then wait weeks longer than expected. Ordering it right after graduation, before you need it for anything, saves that scramble later.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-heading stk-block-heading stk-block-heading--v2 stk-block stk-6b22f09\" id=\"strong-is-university-of-the-people-right-for-you-3-scenarios-strong\" data-block-id=\"6b22f09\"><h2 class=\"stk-block-heading__text\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_University_of_the_People_Right_for_You_3_Scenarios\"><\/span><strong>Is University of the People Right for You? 3 Scenarios<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Final-year B.Com student in Delhi targeting a bank PO exam or government job<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This degree won&#8217;t help, as every role you target requires UGC recognition, which this one lacks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Working professional in Pune wanting a formal Computer Science credential without quitting your job<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>UoPeople&#8217;s asynchronous format and roughly Rs.6.95 lakh total cost make this realistic, especially if your employer already judges you on skills over pedigree.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Applying to Canada under Express Entry, needing a credential before turning 30<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A UoPeople MBA can work in your favor post-2025, but get the WES specifics confirmed by a licensed immigration consultant before paying a single fee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-heading stk-block-heading stk-block-heading--v2 stk-block stk-d3b34fe\" id=\"strong-documents-you-need-to-apply-from-india-strong\" data-block-id=\"d3b34fe\"><h2 class=\"stk-block-heading__text\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Documents_You_Need_to_Apply_from_India\"><\/span><strong>Documents You Need to Apply from India<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table class=\"has-palette-color-5-background-color has-background has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th><strong>Document<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>India-specific detail<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>High school certificate<\/td><td>CBSE, ICSE, or state board marksheet and passing certificate<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Bachelor&#8217;s certificate and <a href=\"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/academic-transcript-certificates-meaning-sample-university-colleges\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">transcript<\/a><\/td><td>For Master&#8217;s applications, provisional certificate accepted if final degree is pending<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Passport or government ID<\/td><td>Aadhaar alone is not accepted; a passport is preferred<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>English proficiency proof<\/td><td><a href=\"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/exams\/ielts\/practice-test\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">IELTS<\/a> (6.0 UG, 6.5 PG) or <a href=\"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/html-sitemap\/toefl-exam\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">TOEFL<\/a>, or skip it via UoPeople&#8217;s own English course<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Application fee<\/td><td>$60, payable by card, PayPal, or Western Union from India<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-heading stk-block-heading stk-block-heading--v2 stk-block stk-cb491e4\" id=\"strong-when-to-apply-planning-around-the-fall-2027-research-season-strong\" data-block-id=\"cb491e4\"><h2 class=\"stk-block-heading__text\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"When_to_Apply_Planning_Around_the_Fall_2027_Research_Season\"><\/span><strong>When to Apply: Planning Around the Fall 2027 Research Season<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Unlike most universities, UoPeople does not run a single Fall or <a href=\"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/spring-intake-in-usa-universities-application\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Spring intake<\/a>. It admits students across roughly five shorter terms a year, so there is almost always a term coming up rather than one yearly deadline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table class=\"has-palette-color-5-background-color has-background has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th><strong>Question<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Answer for Indian applicants<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>Does UoPeople follow a Fall\/Spring cycle like Indian or US universities?<\/td><td>No, it runs about five shorter terms a year on a rolling basis<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Am I locked out if I am researching this in August 2026?<\/td><td>No, there is almost always an upcoming term open for applications<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Where are the current exact term dates and deadlines?<\/td><td>Only on UoPeople&#8217;s own academic calendar, updated every academic year<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>How should the Fall 2027 shortlisting fit into this process?<\/td><td>Use this research phase to shortlist and prepare documents now, then apply for whichever upcoming term lines up with your readiness<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>How reliable are dates published on third-party sites?<\/td><td>Treat them as approximate; they can go stale within months<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong><em>Source:<a href=\"https:\/\/www.uopeople.edu\/academic-calendar\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> <\/a><\/em><\/strong><em><u><a href=\"https:\/\/www.uopeople.edu\/academic-calendar\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">UoPeople Academic Calendar<\/a><\/u><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-heading stk-block-heading stk-block-heading--v2 stk-block stk-decf956\" id=\"strong-what-to-do-when-your-application-or-evaluation-goes-wrong-strong\" data-block-id=\"decf956\"><h2 class=\"stk-block-heading__text\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_to_Do_When_Your_Application_or_Evaluation_Goes_Wrong\"><\/span><strong>What to Do When Your Application or Evaluation Goes Wrong?<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The WES evaluation comes back less favorable than expected:<\/strong> Do not assume it is final. Request a re-evaluation with updated documentation and confirm your specific immigration stream, since acceptance still varies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>English proficiency documents are rejected or incomplete:<\/strong> UoPeople typically lets you enroll in its English Composition course instead, so a missing IELTS score does not have to end things.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>You enrolled before December 2025, assuming DEAC accreditation applied:<\/strong> Nothing about your enrollment changes retroactively, but future correspondence about your accreditation should reference WSCUC, not DEAC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-heading stk-block-heading stk-block-heading--v2 stk-block stk-5fab0aa\" id=\"strong-popular-programs-and-expected-job-roles-for-indian-students-strong\" data-block-id=\"5fab0aa\"><h2 class=\"stk-block-heading__text\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Popular_Programs_and_Expected_Job_Roles_for_Indian_Students\"><\/span><strong>Popular Programs and Expected Job Roles for Indian Students<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The Computer Science Bachelor&#8217;s and the MBA are, by a wide margin, what Indian students ask about most. For US-facing career context, here is how these fields map to standard occupational profiles and pay in the US market specifically, not in India.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table is-style-stripes\"><table class=\"has-palette-color-5-background-color has-background has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th><strong>UoPeople Programme<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>Related US Occupation (per BLS)<\/strong><\/th><th><strong>2024 Median US Pay<\/strong><\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td>B.Sc. Computer Science<\/td><td>Software Developer<\/td><td>$133,080\/year<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>B.A. Business Administration<\/td><td>General and Operations Manager<\/td><td>$102,950\/year<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>B.Sc. Health Science<\/td><td>Medical and Health Services Manager<\/td><td>$117,960\/year<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>MBA<\/td><td>Management occupations (broad group)<\/td><td>$122,090\/year<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><strong><em>Sources:<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bls.gov\/ooh\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> <\/a><\/em><\/strong><em><u><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bls.gov\/ooh\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook<\/a><\/u><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><em>These figures reflect the US labor market only. An Indian graduate working in India will typically earn far less, and none of this assumes US work authorization, which a UoPeople degree does not itself confer.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-heading stk-block-heading stk-block-heading--v2 stk-block stk-a22d61f\" id=\"strong-3-key-takeaways-on-university-of-the-people-strong\" data-block-id=\"a22d61f\"><h2 class=\"stk-block-heading__text\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_Key_Takeaways_on_University_of_the_People\"><\/span><strong>3 Key Takeaways on University of the People<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><\/div>\n\n\n\n<ol>\n<li>Confirm what you need the degree for before paying anything. UGC recognition and WES evaluation follow different rules, and UoPeople satisfies one but not the other.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Budget the real cost, roughly Rs.3.8 to 6.9 lakh depending on the program, not older figures circulating from before the 2026 fee revision.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>If your goal is immigration, what actually matters is the school&#8217;s current WSCUC accreditation (as of 2025) and its current WES status, not whatever you&#8217;ve heard about DEAC. That info may be outdated.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p><strong><em>Verified by:<\/em><\/strong><em> LeapScholar&#8217;s US counseling team, with hands-on experience guiding Indian students through online degree evaluations, including WES and UGC equivalence questions.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Have questions about whether University of the People fits your plan?<\/em><em><u><a href=\"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/webflow_progressive_form?utm_source=Counselling_SEO&amp;utm_medium=Blogs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> Book a free session with a LeapScholar counselor<\/a><\/u><\/em><em>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-stackable-heading stk-block-heading stk-block-heading--v2 stk-block stk-792e339\" id=\"strong-frequently-asked-questions-about-university-of-the-people-strong\" data-block-id=\"792e339\"><h2 class=\"stk-block-heading__text\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Frequently_Asked_Questions_About_University_of_the_People\"><\/span><strong>Frequently Asked Questions About University of the People<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><\/div>\n\n\n<div id=\"rank-math-faq\" class=\"rank-math-block\">\n<ul class=\"rank-math-list \">\n<li id=\"faq-question-1787137153515\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h5 class=\"rank-math-question \"><strong>Is the University of the People a real university?<\/strong><\/h5>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Yes, it is a legitimate, US-accredited non-profit institution holding regional accreditation from WSCUC since February 2025, after voluntarily giving up DEAC accreditation in December 2025. It is not a diploma mill, but it is also not equivalent to a UGC-recognized Indian degree for domestic purposes.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li id=\"faq-question-1787137161378\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h5 class=\"rank-math-question \"><strong>What is UoPeople, in simple terms?<\/strong><\/h5>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>UoPeople is a tuition-free online university charging only an application fee and per-course assessment fees. It offers Associate, Bachelor&#8217;s and Master&#8217;s degrees in fields like Computer Science and Business Administration for students who cannot afford or access traditional tuition.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li id=\"faq-question-1787137162417\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h5 class=\"rank-math-question \"><strong>Is a University of People degree valid in India for government jobs?<\/strong><\/h5>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>For most public-sector and government roles, no. These positions require a UGC-recognized degree, and the University of the People does not hold UGC or AICTE recognition, so it will not satisfy that eligibility requirement.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li id=\"faq-question-1787137165301\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h5 class=\"rank-math-question \"><strong>Is University of People the same institution as University of the People?<\/strong><\/h5>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Yes, &#8220;University of People&#8221; is simply a shorthand or typo for University of the People. There is no separate institution by that name, so information under either search term refers to the same Pasadena-based university.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li id=\"faq-question-1787137166508\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h5 class=\"rank-math-question \"><strong>Can I pursue a Master&#8217;s in India after a UoPeople Bachelor&#8217;s?<\/strong><\/h5>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Most Indian universities require a UGC-recognized undergraduate degree for postgraduate admission, so a direct path is unlikely at most institutions. Some private universities evaluate applications case by case, so check directly with your target university.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li id=\"faq-question-1787137167491\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h5 class=\"rank-math-question \"><strong>Does WES evaluate University of the People degrees for immigration?<\/strong><\/h5>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Yes, since the 2025 WSCUC accreditation, WES evaluates UoPeople degrees for immigration purposes. Before 2025, evaluations were inconsistent and often unfavorable. Confirm current outcomes for your specific program before relying on this information for an application.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li id=\"faq-question-1787137168808\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h5 class=\"rank-math-question \"><strong>Is IELTS or TOEFL required to apply to the University of the People?<\/strong><\/h5>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Not necessarily. UoPeople accepts IELTS (6.0 undergraduate, 6.5 graduate) or TOEFL scores, but without either, you can complete its English Composition course to demonstrate proficiency instead, removing the testing requirement entirely.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li id=\"faq-question-1787137169791\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h5 class=\"rank-math-question \"><strong>What happened to University of the People&#8217;s DEAC accreditation?<\/strong><\/h5>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>UoPeople voluntarily withdrew its DEAC accreditation effective December 31, 2025. It continues to hold WSCUC accreditation, received in February 2025, generally viewed as the strongest credential in the US system.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<li id=\"faq-question-1787137171058\" class=\"rank-math-list-item\">\n<h5 class=\"rank-math-question \"><strong>What if my WES evaluation of a UoPeople degree is rejected?<\/strong><\/h5>\n<div class=\"rank-math-answer \">\n\n<p>Request the specific reason and check if a re-evaluation is possible with more documentation. Rejections are less common since 2025, but outcomes still vary by stream, so verify requirements for your exact category before resubmitting.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><span class=\"rt-reading-time\" style=\"display: block;\"><span class=\"rt-label rt-prefix\"><\/span> <span class=\"rt-time\">10<\/span> <span class=\"rt-label rt-postfix\">min read<\/span><\/span> \u26a1 Quick Read University of the People voluntarily ended its DEAC accreditation on December 31, 2025. UoPeople is not recognized by India&#8217;s UGC or the AICTE for equivalence purposes. A full Computer Science degree now costs about Rs.6,95,401 in total fees. WES has evaluated University of the People degrees since its 2025 WSCUC accreditation. IELTS [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":80,"featured_media":82464,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[15],"tags":[],"blocksy_meta":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52523"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/80"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=52523"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52523\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":82467,"href":"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/52523\/revisions\/82467"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/82464"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=52523"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=52523"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/leapscholar.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=52523"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}